STUDY BEES

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[aprriori-deactivated20170315]

firstly, some general tips from me:

don’t use spark notes/schmoop/other reference sites until AFTER you have read your book and formed your own opinions, because it makes your essays a lot more interesting, which your teacher will appreciate, if everyone is doing the same essay on something! (However, don’t do this if you don’t have time, rely on those sites when you are racing a deadline or juggling tons of stuff ofc)

do the in-class reading beforehand! this sounds so silly, but doing the reading beforehand can help so much if there is an in-class discussion on it after

highlighters (or other writing utensils in various colors) are your best friend when there is an in-class essay! while obviously in general they are great, if you have a few different colors you can quickly mark up the text to find recurring elements and structure essays around that!

look up the social-cultural-historical context of a book! this is super great for reading nonfiction, but also great for most fiction because it allows you to understand the lens the author was writing through and their motive for doing so, which gives you great fodder for discussion if you need to discuss purpose

other useful tips + guides:

mla official formatting

general essay help (basically recipe for a good essay)

SOAPSTone method

words that connote tone

standard themes in literature

i know this isn’t a comprehensive list, but i hope it helps with untangling the mess that is understanding some lit classes!

[studyblrcommunity]

I'm in AP World History, and I have problems retaining information. I'm afraid that my AP exam will be a repeat performance of last years when I got a 1 on the exam. Could you give me some pointers on doing better in history?

Oh boy ok so I haven’t taken AP World, but I have taken APUSH, and the major thing (for me at least) isn’t just memorizing the dates, but fitting it into a sort of narrative? 

Like you want to understand how something fits into the bigger picture of everything else, so that when you see the name you don’t only know what it is, but what lead to it and what resulted from it! The way I get that thing down is by writing out a list of the major dates and places (in a somewhat chronological order or an oder that makes sense) and then I just talk about them out loud. I use super informal language and I just kinda talk about every policy or treaty or battle and how it influenced other major things later.

Also, like I just said, don’t be afraid to be informal about history! If you can remember a general just because ‘he was an asshole’ then do things like that! Don’t make history just. Boring, because if you tie weird facts to thinks or make weird but true statements about things, then you are more likely to remember them (its actually a psychological principle in memory, which is pretty cool). On example from my life right now is I will alway remember Ataturk because one of my classmates asked ‘why would you want a leader who you are calling daddy’. (my IB World History class is weird….)

 Also, get invested in history! If you find something about history that just pisses you off a lot, or that you find interesting, be vocal about it because then you can remember it more. 

Some other ways other than just writing words down and talking about them are using flashcards or writing out outlines of the various historical periods (I did like 3 outlines before the APUSH test to study and it really helped fit everything together more?).

In general, find a way to be somewhat invested in history beyond just repetition and you should do better! 

Also for the actual test, just go through the multiple choice and answer everything you can, and then go back and work on the harder problems you can’t get. A lot of times the test will provide little memory nudges. The DBQ is a bit harder, but find a way to group the evidence and maybe use PIES to help with that (PIES is Political, Ideas, Economic, Social, and its a good overview of most important things in history).

I hope this helped, and if you need any more advice or study ideas, feel free to ask again! Also, I hope you do super well on your next test, I believe in you!

[studyblrcommunity]

Hey I have an issues where I have this big project that I need to start researching, but whenever I think about it I get ridiculously anxious. It's a 2200 word long history paper, due January 11th, worth 24% of my grade. I do have an anxiety disorder and depression so that may be part of it,, but ah any tips on just starting big projects?

i’m sorry i can’t really help you with your anxiety and depression because i have no prior experience pertaining to those so you should probably talk to a medical professional, counselor, advisor, or a trusted adult if you feel like you’re getting overwhelmed ;;

as for the big project, start off by planning each day before the project is due. what i like doing is to get a calendar (there are some calendar printables in my printable tag) and plan each day you have before the deadline.work on it each day. it doesn’t have to be a lot. you might plan the structure of your paper and begin your research the first day, finish researching the second day, start writing the first paragraph the third day, etc etc etc. if you try to do too much at once, it can get overwhelming and very very stressful.i would highly advise starting as soon as you can because as the deadline gets closer, the stress level will begin to rise.

i believe in you! you can do this! show that paper who’s boss !! sending you lots of good vibes and wishing you a lot of luck! hope this helped :)

[coffeesthetics]

hello!! So 2016 is almost here, and in honor of the new year, me and @studyocracy have created a Studyblr birthday page. Basically it’s a masterlist of people’s birthdays, along with their studyblr urls. 

The purpose is for study blogs to be able to wish each other a happy birthday!  If you notice that it’s someone’s special day, you can drop them a message, since it is really nice to receive a note on your birthday :) 

HERE IS THE STUDYBLR BDAY PAGE (it is best viewed on a computer screen)

Please visit the page to add your birthday! (all studyblrs are welcome) You can also visit the page on mobile and send a message to add your birthday, but the list of birthdays only shows up on the computer screen. However, notifications will appear on mobile. 

**Please note that it will take a bit of time to get enough birthdays to fill up the page!

Hopefully, the page will be up and running soon so we can actively wish each other happy birthdays in 2016 xD

Please reblog to spread the word, and don’t forget to stop by and add your own birthday :) 

[areistotle]

hey loves! this is for all of you who want to know more about summary writing/need some help with it, i hope you enjoy it <3

[areistotle]

hello guys!!! this is part 3 of my english language masterposts all about narrative + descriptive essays to help you out, enjoy :]

consists of a series of events, either imaginary or based on your own experience, in a vivid descriptive style

may be written in the first person [I/we] or in the third person [he/she, etc] + often includes the thoughts, reactions etc of the main character[s], describing the action as if seen through their eyes.

a good narrative should consist of:

an introduction which sets the scene to create an interesting mood/atmosphere to make the reader want to continue reading, and/or begins dramatically to capture the reader’s attention [mystery/suspense]

a main body which develops the series of events clearly, gives vivid descriptions of the people/places involved etc..

a conclusion which completes the story perhaps in an unexpected way. may describe people’s feelings/reactions, the consequences of what happened etc…

points to consider:

before starting to write, consider a suitable story outline, then a detailed plot [use what, who, when, why, + how]

writing techniques include the use of vivid description of people, places, objects etc

narratives usually occur in the past therefore you should use a variety of past tenses [eg: past continuous sets the scene, past simple is used for main events, past perfect is used to describe an event before the main event[s]

consider the sequence of events + use time words such as: before, after, then, in the beginning, later, in the end, until, while etc…

1. describing people

should consist of:

an introduction giving brief information about who the person is, where/how you met them, how you heard about them etc…

a main body which may include descriptions of physical appearance, personality/behaviour, manner/mannerisms, and/or details of the person’s life/lifestyle [hobbies, interests, everyday activities etc…]

a conclusion in which you comment on why the person is of interest, express your feelings/opinions concerning the person, etc…

you may also be asked to explain why this person is successful/admirable/unusual

start each paragraph with a topic sentence which summarises the paragraph

points to consider:

to describe physical appearance, give details of a person’s height/build, age, facial features, hair, clothing etc…moving from general to specific

to describe personality + behaviour, support your description with examples of manner and mannerisms

to describe life, lifestyle + beliefs, you should talk about the person’s habits, interests, profession, daily routine, opinions, etc…

if the title of the essay asks you to describe a person related to the present [eg: a person who is unusual] describe the person in present tenses + vice versa with titles that mention the past

the use of descriptive vocabulary and a variety of linking words + structures make your writing more interesting so use them!!

make sure you interpret the task well, do not describe every aspect of a person + make sure to not ignore the key words

2. describing places/buildings

should consist of:

an introduction giving brief information about the name + location of the place/building stating the reason why you chose to write about it

a main body giving both general and specific details about the place [moving from general features to specific ones]. refer to landscape, buildings, landmarks etc.. to give the overall impression of the place then give a detailed description of surroundings

a conclusion in which your express your feelings/opinions concerning the subject + give a recommendation

you may also be asked to explain why a particular place is important for you

points to consider:

descriptions of places/buildings may include factual information such as age, size, colour, materials etc…, details relating to the senses to suggest mood/atmosphere + opinions/impressions of the place

each aspect should be presented in a separate paragraph with a clear topic sentence

present tenses are normally used when writing for a tourist brochure/magazine article. past tenses are used when describing a visit to a place/building. first + second conditionals [will/would] can be used when you describe your ideal city/house etc… + use the present when giving factual information about a place

3. describing objects

give accurate information concerning the size + weight, shape, pattern + decoration, colour, origin and material. you can give necessary information in separate sentences

4. describing festivals/events/ceremonies

should consist of:

an introduction in which you mention the name/type, time/date, place + reason for celebration

a main body where you describe preparations for the event + the event itself

a conclusion where you describe people’s feelings or comments on the event

points to consider:

when you describe annual events, present tense is used + style is formal

however, when giving an account of an event you witnessed or took part in, past tenses are used + style can be less formal. the passive is frequently used to describe preparations/activities which take place

use descriptive vocabulary to set the scene + describe the atmosphere

+ my masterposts:

notes, studying, and self-study resources

self-study resources

supplies

igcse resources

improving your handwriting

how to studyblr

literature masterpost

organisation

aesthetically pleasing notes

annotating

studying a foreign language

really great apps

math

college + uni

motivation

biology

space!!!!

chemistry

physics

summary writing [pt. i]

the discursive/argumentative essay [pt.ii]

+ more

hope this helps some more of you with your essays, my dears <3 let me know if i can help with anything else 

-helena xx

[studyblroyalty]

11.46am || i’m so sorry for the lack of posting exams are in a week and i’m freaking out, also my macbook is down so i can only use tumblr mobile (which isnt the most ideal) anyway here is the highly requested format of my character flashcards for merchant of venice, it was pretty effective for me since my exams went well so hopefully it is for you! happy studying!

[studyblrcommunity]

Hi! I'm new to the community, and I was wondering if we're allowed to post other things like journaling and writing or is it solely for study posts? If not, can you recommend some writing|journaling posts I could follow? Thank you!

we only reblog posts about studying so i’m afraid that we don’t really have any suggestions for you. you could search through a tumblr tag for writing or for journaling though! sorry!

[studyblrcommunity]

Is there a list of university studyblrs anywhere?

if you look on our community page, you can click the category for university studyblrs at the top of the page!

[studyblrcommunity]

can i apply for a spot in the community page if i've only just recently made a studyblr?

yes, you can!

[studyblrcommunity]

hi, maybe this is a really dumb question but how do you know if a class is an honors/pre-ap class?

an honors/pre-ap class will generally advance faster and be more difficult than a normal class. usually, the class will have “honors” or “pre-ap” in its name. for example, there could be a normal “biology” class along with a “honors biology” class.

[studyblrcommunity]

I'm glad that I found you guys! Your blog is amazing! 2 years ago I join this community and I just love it! :* thanks 4 ur work from Mexico!

thank you so much!

[studyblrcommunity]

This blog is amaziiiiing :3 Thanks for existing 💜🙌👏👌

thank you very much! we really appreciate it!

[studyblrcommunity]

can i still apply to be on the community page if i'm in middle school?

yep! it’s totally okay!

[jolinedesigns]

A simple, ultra-lightweight clock to replace your tab menu. Minimal clock, minimal settings, minimal fuss.

What is it:  Minimal new tab clock is a google chrome extension that replaces the new tab in the browser with a minimalistic clock.

Features:

Analogue clock

Digital clock (12 or 24 hours)

White or black background

If you first download the extension, it looks like this, just a very minimalistic clock with the date underneath it.

You can adjust the settings so it’s a digital clock instead of analogue. You can choose between a 12 hour and 24 hour clock. 

If it’s night and the white background is too bright for your liking, you can toggle the lights so it’s a dark background.

Download in the chrome web store [click]

[mindelevator]

Links you may find helpful

Improve your concentration

12 foolproof tips for finding focus

How to focus and concentrate while studying

How to stay focused while studying for finals

The 8 best apps for a calm, focused mind

10 apps to help you stay focused on your writing

Use promodoro effectively

I recommend switching your phone to airplane mode while you are on your 25-minute working period, only to switch it back on when it’s your break time.

If you find yourself fail to get back to work after the 5-minute break time, you should probably only use your phone during the long break. Just take a walk, refill your water bottle and relax a little bit during the break

Food and water

Water does help you to concentrate, and to reduce the feeling of hunger that you may constantly have when working

So it is great to fill a cup/bottle of water and put it on your desk when working

If you still feel hungry all the time, prepare some snacks in your working area (that should keep your hands clean)

An extra to-do list / a random tasks’ box

on top of having a regular to-do lists for your normal tasks, prepare an extra list

you can use just a piece of paper, or a memo pad, or online lists, whichever you like

I have heard an idea of using a jar/box to place all the memos of random things you have in mind while working

this is to keep everything that appears in your mind while you’re working, for example, if you suddenly remember that you have to online shop for something, write it down, and do it later (hence this can actually minimise distractions)

#14 || Link to my study tips series - i post once a week here

[tbhstudying]

do your research before reading the book, it’s always a good idea to look up the author and when the book was written and published. by looking that up, you can learn about the historical context of the book and get a deeper understanding of the plot, characters, and the author’s purpose behind reading the book.

read the intro and summary of the book before beginning if there’s an introduction to the book, be sure to read that for any relevant information that may help you analyze the book. find a summary of the book online to prepare yourself for a good reading. i know, i know, it feels like a bit of a letdown if you know the ending beforehand, but without it, you may get caught up in the plot and lose the important thematic details of the book. it’ll allow you to read the book with an open mind.

figure out what you need to do do you have a list of vocabulary for the book? find out each definition. do you need to analyze a character? get a sheet of paper and get ready to take notes on the characters. do you need to write about the theme? get post-it notes and mark the quotes that you think are relevant to the plot. either way, just be prepared for what you have to do with the book.

don’t highlight; write oftentimes, people will simply highlight pretty much anything in the book. i’m not a huge fan of the highlighting - annotating method because you may want to sell the book later on or reread it without bombarding your eyes with bright color. the highlighter ink may even bleed to the other side of the paper. i think that it just ruins the reading experience and future potential. it also encourages passive reading. instead, use sticky notes or sticky tabs to write down notes and place them in the book. keep a piece of paper by your side to take note of every character’s name and important plot points. using a color key with sticky notes may be helpful as well. if you must, i would suggest underlining with a pencil so that you can erase it after you’re done with the whole process.

take copious notes write down the words that you don’t know in the story and look them up. write down characters and their changes over the course of the book. write down times / settings when they show up. write down important quotes and passages + page numbers. write down every single thought that you have about the book because it may become relevant later on.

make a summary of the chapter after you finish one i personally like doing the summaries on index cards and then put them in order after i finish the entire book. i can then look through them to see the plot progression and character growth over the course of the story without hunting through the book or my notes.

wait until you finish the entire paragraph / passage before writing notes if you stop halfway, you may miss important information that’s revealed at the end of the passage. besides, you may develop new thoughts after reading the entire passage / paragraph.

look for literary devices you know, your metaphors, allusions, similes, personifications, etc etc etc. it’s good to be familiar with literary devices because they will often give an insight to the story and frequently become relevant to questions on the test / writing things. here’s a good site on literary devices.

hope this helped and good luck! if you’d like to request a post, go here and if you’d like to see more helpful posts, go here !! thanks :)